"What's the detection limit?" Saigo asked when he saw Vegeta III put on the Scouter.
"The detection limit is 20,000!"
Saigo curled his lip in disdain. "That's way too low! Make the limit as high as possible from now on! Come on, test my power level and see what it is!"
"Yes! I'll tell our scientists to develop one as soon as possible!" Vegeta III replied, then pressed the Scouter's switch and aimed it at Saigo.
"Beep beep beep! Power level: 1,000! Wait, how can your power level possibly be only 1,000, King Saigo?" Vegeta III cried out.
Thinking he must have read it wrong, he checked again, but the number displayed on the Scouter was still "1,000."
Everyone else was just as puzzled. Hadn't King Saigo easily defeated Beria and the others? How could his power level possibly be only 1,000?!
"Why are you in such a hurry? That's the result of me suppressing my own power level. I'll tell you some good news: I can lower my power level to around 500. Do you believe me?"
They all shook their heads instinctively, then nodded once they realized what they were doing.
Seeing their uncertain expressions, Saigo deliberately suppressed his ki. At the same time, the Scouter before Vegeta III began beeping.
"Beep beep beep!"
"Aah! Y-your power level really did drop to 500! King Saigo, you're incredible!" Vegeta III cried. "That technique is truly amazing!"
"Really, King Vegeta?"
Beria was still used to calling Vegeta III "King Vegeta," but Vegeta III scolded him.
"Beria, you don't need to call me King Vegeta anymore. Call me Vegeta III, or Captain Vegeta if you prefer."
He looked at the others. There was not a trace of reluctance or attachment on his face as he continued, "The same goes for all of you! From now on, the Saiyans will have only one king: King Saigo! Of course, while we're carrying out the secret plan, you must still call me 'King Vegeta' in public. Otherwise, the enemy might catch on!"
Then he turned back to the Scouter and said, both astonished and excited:
"King Saigo really has mastered a technique for freely controlling his power level. This is great! Once we learn it, the enemy won't be able to detect us so easily!"
"Beep beep beep!"
"King Saigo is raising his power level! 1,000... 2,000... 9,000... 10,000! It's still rising! I knew King Saigo couldn't possibly have a power level of only 1,000!"
Everyone present was astonished. A power level of 10,000 was already higher than that of the vast majority of Saiyans!
What shocked them most was that his power level was still rising!
At the same time, they felt the powerful pressure radiating from Saigo. They had to brace themselves and steady their footing. It would be humiliating to be knocked down by his ki.
"Beep beep beep!"
"15,000... 16,000..."
"Beep beep beep!"
"19,000... 20,000! Ah!"
Boom!
The Scouter Vegeta III was wearing exploded, shattering into pieces and making him yelp.
At that moment, not a single person doubted Saigo anymore. If a power level above 20,000 wasn't enough to qualify someone to be king of the Saiyans, then they had even less right to the title!
Everyone stood up straight and looked at Saigo with reverence and awe, their eyes burning with fervor.
Saigo reined in his ki, a faint smile on his face. "My power level is higher than 20,000, but I'm not going to tell you exactly how high just yet."
"All right, let's officially begin. I'll teach you how to control your ki..."
The theory lesson didn't take long. Saigo simply followed Gohan's method for teaching ki control, and it took only a few minutes.
"I've taught you the method. Now practice on your own in pairs. Each pair can use one Scouter to test each other. Once you can control your ki at will, congratulations—you've graduated!"
"After you graduate, I'll teach you how to train and raise your power levels! Go back and give it a try, and remember not to let anyone else notice!"
"Yes, King Saigo!"
After Vegeta III and the others left, Saigo began his own path of arduous training.
After a day of training, his power level increased by another 50.
From May 9 to May 15, Saigo ran six more simulations, choosing the power-level reward each time.
His power level increased by a total of 850 through real-world training.
On May 15, all 20 Saiyan warriors had gained an initial ability to freely control their ki.
On May 16, the 20 elite warriors returned to the secret base and began training under Saigo.
The training was intense, but the Saiyans had been accustomed to high gravity since childhood. Gritting their teeth, they all managed to endure it.
By May 25, after 10 consecutive days of high-intensity training, everyone had made significant gains. Their power levels had increased by at least 200, which sent their enthusiasm soaring. They were eager to train through the night, but Saigo stopped them, saying that balancing work and rest would help them improve faster.
This time, everyone believed him and followed his instructions and arrangements.
The 20 elite warriors were members of four small squads, and the power-level increases among members of the same squad were fairly similar.
The Bardock Squad was an exception. Bardock had gained 350 power in 10 days, reaching the level of an upper-class warrior, while the others had gained only a little over 200.
The Paragus Squad was relatively evenly matched, with increases ranging from 330 to 360.
The power-level increases within Vegeta III's squad also varied considerably. Vegeta III had the highest increase among them—and the greatest increase of all 20 warriors, gaining 450.
In the intermediate warrior squad, one member had gained only 250, while the other four had gained between 300 and 320. Their power levels had all reached between 5,000 and 6,000.
The power levels of three squads were as follows:
Bardock Squad Bardock: 12,350 (12,000) Fasha: 8,260 (8,000) Tora: 8,750 (7,500) Dodobo: 6,730 (6,500) Pabujin: 6,210 (6,000) . Paragus Squad Paragus: 9,360 (9,000) Malandon: 7,350 (7,000) Kaiboma: 7,350 (7,000) Halan: 6,330 (6,000) Fasen: 5,330 (5,000) . Vegeta III Squad Vegeta III: 10,450 (10,000) Beria: 9,430 (9,030) Beijiasi: 9,430 (9,030) Hafisi: 8,880 (8,500) Luoga: 8,350 (8,000) . Intermediate Warrior Squad—Zel Squad Zel: 6,120 (5,800) Molake: 5,810 (5,500) Kelin: 5,700 (5,400) Dien: 5,500 (5,200) Luoyi: 5,250 (5,000)
The Bardock Squad had fought on the front lines for years. Although they were only low-class warriors by birth, their extensive combat experience had subtly helped their talents improve further.
Bardock also currently had the highest power level on Planet Vegeta, apart from Saigo.
Everyone was very pleased to learn that their power levels had increased. They had never imagined training could make them stronger.
As far as they knew, power levels naturally rose with age. They had never considered that training could raise them.
Before you continue